As Greedo says "Oota Goota," in the letterboxed versions, you can see that this shot is a direct continuation of the cantina shot that preceded it. In other words, on the left hand side of the screen, Chewbacca can be seen leaving, even though, less than two meters behind him Greedo has a gun at Han’s chest. I guess the Wookiee had a good feel for Greedo’s competence..
Another continuity problem dealing with hands occurs with Greedo. For the "talking" shots of Greedo, note that his hands are big, bony green ones. But in the shots that he's actually in the frame with Harrison Ford, his hands are the suction-cup tipped "green onions" type fingers. This is because the Greedo sequence was filmed in two different continents, at two different times. The first unit shooting that was done in Elstree Studios featured Paul Blake as Greedo. This Greedo had the thin fingers, a British accent (as recorded on set) and no facial articulation. When Lucas got the extra money he needed to insert more outlandish aliens into the cantina, he reshot all of Greedo's closeups with a new, articulated mask, and Maria de Aragon performing the role. This Greedo has the boney fingers, and does not share any actual screentime with Han Solo.
In letterboxed versions, as Greedo says "I’ve been looking forward to killing you..." a Gotal walks by in the background, and Gotals have huge heads..
This controversial shot must have been murder on the ILM artists tasked to make it look real. They were only partially successful, as they had to make it look like Greedo shot first, in a scene where Harrison Ford has absolutely NO reaction to said shot. To their credit, the artists morphed Harrison Ford's neck and face so that he flinches a bit. Look carefully and you'll see it.
In the original version of A New Hope, Han shoots through the table. In the Special Edition, his shot, defying perspective, flies over the table. Yet, in the subsequent shot of Greedo collapsing face-down, the table shows the damage of having been shot through.
The frame that Greedo gets blasted, it's quite obviously a dummy standing in for him.
Reacting to the violence in the cantina are Momaw Nadon (Hammerhead) and Trinto Duaba (Terminal Man).
Several more aliens turn their heads to see the commotion. This scene includes Het Nkik, the Jawa, Reegesk (or Rodent as his production nicknamed identified him), and Takeel, the burned-out Snivvian.
Myo the Abyssin also turns his eye on the action, as does Muftak the Talz. Their production names were Cyclops and Four-Eyes, respectively.
Unlike what is printed in Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina, the bartender catches the coin that Han throws him. Tales says it lands on the counter and he slaps his hand down on it. The letterboxed version leaves no question about this. As Han leaves, a Nimbanel and the dimwit Snaggletooth are on the right side of the screen.
Yerka Mig, a fugitive from Ralltiir, wears a popular jacket, so it would seem. This blue-and-black spacer jacket can be seen on several other extras throughout Mos Eisley.